LONDON — Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba was “critically ill” in a hospital’s heart attack unit last night after collapsing during a match at Tottenham that was subsequently abandoned.

The Zaire-born England under-21 international fell face-down to the pitch near the halfway line without any players near him.

Medics rushed onto the pitch with a defibrillator and treated the 23-year-old Muamba, pumping his chest for around six minutes of treatment before he was rushed to hospital.

“Fabrice Muamba has been admitted to the heart attack center at London Chest Hospital where he is currently in a critically ill condition in intensive care,” Bolton said in a statement around three hours after the incident. “No further information will be issued at this stage. The club has requested the media to respect his family’s privacy at this time.”

When Muamba collapsed in the 41st minute of the FA Cup match, Bolton manager Owen Coyle shouted from the touchline: “He’s just collapsed.”

Tottenham players William Gallas and Louis Saha along with referee Howard Webb immediately beckoned for medical support as the quarterfinal was stopped.

Some players appeared to be praying as fans chanted Muamba’s name between periods of complete silence at White Hart Lane.

After Muamba was carried off on a stretcher to applause from the crowd with an oxygen mask and with his chest still being pumped, all the players also left the pitch before Webb abandoned the match.